Effects of COVID-19 infection on cardiopulmonary function of military aircrews and related aeromedical assessment
Objective To evaluate the effects of corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)infection on cardiopulmonary function of military aircrews,and to explore methods for aeromedical assessment of post-infection military aircrews.Methods The twenty military aircrews infected with COVID-19 who were hospitalized and underwent physical examination in the 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Team were selected as the experimental group while another twenty military aircrews without COVID-19 infection that matched in gender,age,BMI and hours of flight were selected as the matched group.Resting pulmonary function test and cardiopulmonary exercise test were performed to evaluate cardiopulmonary function.According to the results of health checkups,the post-infection aeromedical assessment of the military aircrews was carried out in combination with the types of aircraft and jobs.Results The comparison of resting pulmonary function between the two groups showed that there was no significant difference in forced vital capacity(FVC),peak expiratory flow(PEF),forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1),forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity(FEV1/FVC),maximal expiratory flow at 50％of forced vital capacity(MEF50),maximal expiratory flow at 75％of forced vital capacity(MEF75),maximal voluntary ventilation(MW)or the corresponding measured value/predicted value percentage(all P＞0.05).Results of cardiopulmonary exercise tests in both groups showed that the pea exercise power(LOAD),peak oxygen uptake(VO2peak),peak oxygen uptake/kilogram(VO2peak/kg),anaerobic threshold(AT),anaerobic threshold/kilogram(AT/kg),peak metabolic equivalents(METS),peak oxygen pulse(O2pulse max),peak ventilation volume(VE)and the corresponding percentage of measured value/predicted value in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the matched group(t=2.611～6.114,all P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in heart rate recovery(HRR),maximum heart rate(HRmax),or respiratory exchange ratio(RER)between the two groups(all P＞0.05).The aeromedical assessment of twenty military aircrews infected with COVID-19 showed that eighteen of them were qualified for flying(two of them were confined to flying observation)and two military aircrews were temporarily grounded.Conclusion COVID-19 infection can significantly reduce the cardiopulmonary function of military aircrews,which poses a threat to flight safety.For the purpose of more effective aeromedical assessment,it is recommended that military aircrews within 2 months of COVID-19 infection be required to undergo cardiopulmonary exercise tests(CPET)prior to resumption of flight.
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